Health plan bids to help beat heart disease

A major health plan aimed at combating heart disease across Europe is to be launched in Ireland today.

The European Heart Health Charter is an EU-wide policy document on cardiovascular disease prevention aimed at helping to tackle one of the world’s biggest killers.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Europe and in Ireland, accounting for half of all deaths.

The charter is being launched in Ireland by the Irish Heart Foundation.

Leading Irish professional and public health organisations, policy makers and politicians will sign the document, pledging to tackle cardiovascular disease and to strongly promote a future ’heart healthier Ireland’.

The organisers of today’s launch said the rationale and commitment for the charter is that: “Every child born in this millennium has the right to live until the age of at least 65 without suffering from avoidable cardiovascular disease.”

Key signatories include Professor Eoin O’Brien, President of the Irish Heart Foundation, David Kennedy, Chairman of the National Heart Alliance and Geraldine Luddy, Director of the Women’s Health Council.